Air treatment device

ABSTRACT

A device for treatment of air in a room or other space in which the air is perfumed, or deodorized, or purified. A solid refractory material acts as a carrier for air-treatment material thereon which is gasified upon heating of the carrier material. The solid carrier material is held in a casing within which an electrically energized heating element heats the carrier material and the airtreatment material is liberated and passes through openings in the casing to effect the air treatment.

United States Patent [191 Moran [4 1 July 22, 1975 [73] Assignee:Comercial Super Dix, S.A.,

Madrid, Spain 221 Filed: Sept. 26, 1972 211 Appl. No 292,308

[52] US. Cl 21/74 R; 21/119; 55/274', 1

55/279; 55/524; 219/271; 219/276; 239/136 [51] Int. Cl. A61L 9/02 [58]Field of Search 55/279, 274, 387, 524; 21/74 A, 119, 120', 219/271, 276;239/135, 136

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,604,572 7/1952 Hudson21/74 R X 2,742,342 4/1956 Dew et a1 21/120 X 3,299,620 l/1967Hollingworth 55/279 X 3,403,252 9/1968 Nagy 55/279 x 3,518,046 6/1970Cicirello 55/279 X 3,576,593 4/1971 Cicirello 55/279 X 3,643,040 2/1972Kaneyasu 3.653,?144 4/1972 Clardy ct al. 3,667,134 6/1972 Rockson3,693,323 9/1972 Gant 55/387 X Primary Ii.\'uminer-Frank W, LutterAssistant ExaminerWilliam Cuchlinski, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Darby& Darby 571 1 ABSTRACT A device for treatment of air in a room or otherspace in which the air is perfumed, or deodorized, or purifled. A solidrefractory material acts as a carrier for air-treatment material thereonwhich is gasified upon heating of the carrier material. The solidcarrier material is held in a casing within which an electricallyenergized heating element heats the carrier material and theairtreatment material is liberated and passes through openings in thecasing to effect the air treatment.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures AIR TREATMENT DEVICE CROSS REFERENCE TORELATED APPLICATIONS The present invention relatesto an air treatmentdevice of the type described in my co-pending application Ser. No.292,309 filed Sept. 26. I972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to dispensersand more particularly to an air-treatment device for perfuming.purifying and/or deodorizing the air within a space.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART Air perfuming devices and dispensers are wellknown. Many of these devices simply hold a vaporizable liquid fortreatment of the air or a solid material that is sublimated. Generallythese devices are limited to treatment of the air in relatively smallconfined space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION the invention comprises a tubular casing withinwhich is defined at least one space adjacent one end of the casing whichis in communication with the atmosphere and the interior of the casing.Within this space is held a solid carrier material which is treated witha gasifiable material which is driven off from the carrier material bythe application of heat to the space and carrier material therein.

Within the casing is provided an electrically energized heating elementapplying heat to the space and connections for connecting the heatingelement to an electrical power source externally of the casing. A pilotlight is provided within the casing indicating that the unit iselectrically energized and this is viewable through a window provided inthe casing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of theair-treatment device in accordance with the invention will appear fromthe following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention,and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an air-treatment device according tothe invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the air-treatment device of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As illustrated in the drawingan air-treatment device according to the invention comprises a tubularcasing l which is made of a suitable material, such as metal or plastic.The casing is provided at opposite ends with removable end covers 2 eachhaving a grate 3 with openings therein. The end covers 2 are providedwith an annular shoulder 12 by which they can be slidably and snuglyfitted onto the tubular casing 1.

Within the casing adjacent each end thereof is mounted a washer-likeelement 4 having a central opening providing communication between theinterior of the casing and the end between a respective element 4 and agrate 3. The elements 4 are provided with a plurality of upstandingprojections 16 spaced from each other and facing toward the respectivegrate 3. The projections 16 fit into openings in a solid cake of carriermaterial 17 to snugly hold the material within the respective end spacesbetween an element 4 and a grate 3.

The solid carrier material 17 is provided with gasifiable air-treatmentmaterial thereon that is capable of treating the air when the carriermaterial 17 is subjected to heat, for example when the space within thecasing is heated. The carrier material 17 is a solid refractory materialcontaining. for example. perfume oil or essence which is more readilyliberated when the cake of material is heated.

In order to effect the heating. a heating element 5, for example aheating coil or heating resistor. is provided within the interior of thecasing l. The heating element- 5 is connected through leads 67 to apower source externally of the casing.

In order to monitor the device to ascertain that the unit iselectrically energized. a transparent plug 8, made for example of atransparent plastic, is located on the casing thus providing a windowthrough which a viewer can view internally of the casing to determinewhether an electric bulb or pilot light 9 which is connected to thepower source is in the ON condition indicating the heating element isenergized. The bulb circuit may be provided with a coil or resistorarrangement protecting the bulb from excess current provided through theterminals.

The heating arrangement may be provided with an electric switch. notshown. Moreover. the heating element and circuitry can be constructedfor use with alternating or direct currents.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An air treatmentdevice for perfuming. deodorizing and purifying air comprising. atubular casing. grate means on each end of said casing providingcommuni-' cation between the interior of said casing and the atmosphere.holding means axially spaced from said grate means at each said one endof said casing, a cake of solid carrier material carrying thereon'a heatactivated gasifiable. air-treatment material mounted on each saidholding means adjacent its respective grate means. an electricallyactivated heating means in said casing between said two cakes of carriermaterial to heat said cakes of carrier material and liberate thetreatment material therein which passes through the respective gratemeans to the area adjacent the casing, and means for connecting saidheating means to an electrical power source.

2. An air treatment device according to claim 1 in which each saidholding means comprises a washer-like element mounted to said casing andhaving a central opening.

3. An air treatment device as in claim 1 wherein eachsource ofelectrical power, and an opening in said casing through which said lampcan be viewed.

5. A device as in claim 3 wherein each said holding means includes atleast one upstanding projection on which said cake of carrier materialis mounted.

1. AN AIR TREATMENT DEVICE FOR PERFUMING, DEODORIZING AND PURIFYING AIRCOMPRISING, A TUBULAR CASING, GRATE MEANS ON EACH END OF SAID CASINGPROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF SAID CASING AND THEATMOSPHERE, HOLDING MEANS AXIALLY SPACED FROM SAID GRATE MEANS AT EACHSAID ONE END OF SAID CASING, A CAKE OF SOLID CARRIER MATERIAL CARRYINGTHEREON A HEAT ACTIVATED GASIFIABLE, AIR-TREATMENT MATERIAL MOUNTED ONEACH SAID HOLDING MEANS ADJACENT ITS RESPECTIVE GRATE MEANS, ANELECTRICALLY ACTIVATED HEATING MEANS IN SAID CASING BETWEEN SAID TWOCAKES OF CARRIER MATERIAL TO HEAT SAID CAKES OF CARRIER MATERIAL ANDLIBERATE THE TREATMENT MATERIAL THEREIN WHICH PASSES THROUGH THERESPECTIVE GRATE MEANS TO THE AREA ADJACENT THE CASING, AND MEANS FORCONNECTING SAID HEATING MEANS TO AN ELECTRICAL POWER SOURCE.
 2. An airtreatment device according to claim 1 in which each said holding meanscomprises a washer-like element mounted to said casing and having acentral opening.
 3. An air treatment device as in claim 1 wherein eachsaid holding means includes at least one upstanding projection on whichsaid cake of carrier material is mounted.
 4. A device as in claim 1further comprising a pilot lamp means for connecting said pilot lampmeans to the source of electrical power, and an opening in said casingthrough which said lamp can be viewed.
 5. A device as in claim 3 whereineach said holding means includes at least one upstanding projection onwhich said cake of carrier material is mounted.